In 2016, the trilogy concluded with Po solidifying his role as the Dragon Warrior, earning respect from mentors, the Furious Five, and fostering a strong bond with his dads, Mr. Ping and Li.
“Kung Fu Panda 4”, released eight years later, struggles to capture the essence of its predecessors, opting for action over depth. Targeting a younger audience, the humor lacks substance.
Directed by Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Ma Stine, the film’s pacing rushes through scenes, missing opportunities for tension and humor. Examples include a chase scene with a bull in a China shop, lacking time for viewers to appreciate the details.
Written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, and Darren Lemke, the script relies on uninspired puns and introduces a forced plot point where Shifu suddenly appoints Po as the valley’s spiritual leader, replacing Master Oogway. This feels out of place given Po’s recent role, and the hurried audition scene falls flat.
A fresh threat emerges with the introduction of the shape-shifting sorceress, the Chameleon, voiced by Viola Davis, who aims to steal Po’s Staff of Wisdom to gain villain abilities from the Spirit Realm. Po teams up with Zhen, a knowledgeable fox voiced by Awkwafina, to thwart her plans. However, the storyline feels repetitive, echoing the plot of “Kung Fu Panda 3” with another villain seeking power. Although Awkwafina’s role as a wisecracking sidekick is entertaining, it feels somewhat clichéd, particularly considering her similar roles in other animated films.
As Po and Zhen venture to stop the Chameleon in Juniper City, Po’s dads clandestinely follow. However, their subplot feels secondary, with Bryan Cranston and James Hong’s characters having limited involvement. In the city, they encounter Han, a pangolin leader of street thieves voiced by Ke Huy Quan, yet his role seems underdeveloped. The bustling cityscape lacks creativity, and the absence of the Furious Five, supposedly on solo missions, contradicts their established teamwork ethos.
The latest “Kung Fu Panda” installment lacks the enchanting essence of its predecessors, particularly the theme of inner peace. Previous films allowed viewers to immerse themselves in the vibrant animation, enhancing the storytelling and spiritual atmosphere. However, this time, the movie feels chaotic and lacks the tranquil moments, exemplified by a frenetic chase scene set to Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” reflecting the franchise’s apparent deviation from its core essence.
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Plot Summary | – Po is appointed as the spiritual leader, replacing Master Oogway. – Introduces a new villain, the shape-shifting sorceress, the Chameleon. – Po teams up with Zhen, a knowledgeable fox, to stop the Chameleon. – Po’s dads follow him clandestinely to Juniper City. – Encounter with Han, a pangolin leader of street thieves. |
| Pacing and Direction | – Directed by Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Ma Stine. – Rushed pacing, missing opportunities for tension and humor. – Lack of appreciation for details, especially evident in chase scenes. |
| Script | – Written by Jonathan Aibel, Glenn Berger, and Darren Lemke. – Relies on uninspired puns. – Introduces a forced plot point of Po becoming the valley’s spiritual leader. – Hurried audition scene feels flat. |
| Characters and Setting | – Introduction of new characters: the Chameleon and Zhen. – Po’s dads and Han have limited involvement. – Absence of the Furious Five contradicts their teamwork ethos. – Cityscape lacks creativity. |
| Essence of Previous Films | – Lacks the enchanting essence of previous films. – Deviates from the theme of inner peace. – Chaotic and lacks tranquil moments. – Reflects a departure from the core essence of the franchise. |
